Junior Shaunna Ambrose had a team-high 19 points in the loss to Canisius.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Canisius College used a 10-0 run midway in the second half to pull away and record a 76-65 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball victory over Niagara University Sunday afternoon at the Gallagher Center.

Niagara (3-24, 2-16 MAAC) trailed 35-26 at halftime but the Purple Eagles used 17 second-half points by junior forward Shaunna Ambrose (McKees Rock, Pa.) to fuel their comeback. Ambrose, who finished with a team-high 19 points, sank a three-point field goal from the top of the key to give the Purple Eagles a 55-52 lead with 7:20 remaining. Ambrose scored 15 of her points during Niagara’s 29-15 run to take the lead while sophomore forward Sarah Wilson (St. Catharines, Ont.) added eight points.

Canisius (17-10, 14-4 MAAC) responded with its 10-0 run to take a 62-55 lead when Megan Lyte scored with 4:58 to play.

Niagara junior guard Chantelle Wilson (Burlington, Ont.) brought the Purple Eagles within three, 62-59, with her career-high tying fifth three-pointer of the game with 3:33 left. Wilson’s three-pointer was Niagara’s seventh of the half as the Purple Eagles made a season-high 11 three-pointers in the contest. Wilson finished with 15 points.

The teams traded points as Niagara junior forward Toni Smalley (Thornville, Ohio) sank two foul shots with 2:12 remaining to make it 66-63. Canisius then got two layups and sank six of eight free throws to pull away to the 76-65 victory.

Canisius used Amanda Cavo’s 21 first-half points to pull out the 35-26 halftime lead. Cavo was 6 of 9 from beyond the three-point line in the first 20 minutes. She finished with a career-high 28 points. Lyte added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Golden Griffins while Becky Zak and Abby Radunske scored 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Ambrose also had eight rebounds and two steals for Niagara, which will play next in the MAAC Championship Thursday in Albany at the Pepsi Center.